Courtroom cleared after verdict in murder trial

CARLSBAD -- The courtroom was ordered clear by Judge Jane Shuler Gray following a violent outburst by family members during the reading of the verdict against Senovio Mendoza Friday at the Eddy County Courthouse.

Mendoza was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for the death of 50-year-old Timothy Wallace.

"Because of an outburst by a family member everyone was removed from the courthouse and taken outside," Chief Mark Cage of the Eddy County Sheriff's Office said.

No one was charged in the incident but Cage said that deputies did escort jury members home to ensure their safety. Mendoza's family members were visibly emotional throughout the presentation of the prosecutions case this week.

A jury member said that the man he believed to be Mendoza's brother lifted a pew in the gallery of the courtroom and "threw" it across the room.

"The way it looked to me is he had his hands on the pew in front of him, and I wouldn't necessarily say he did it aggressively. He just seemed really upset," said the jury member, who asked not to be identified for his own safety.

The jury took only 90 minutes to reach their decision after a week-long case presented by prosecutor Roxeanne Esquibel.

Mendoza was being re-tried for the first degree murder charge after a mistrial was declared on the charge in a February 2014 trial.

Esquibel said a poll of that jury indicated that the jury was hung by one juror which influenced their decision to retry the case.

Wallace was shot and killed in his home in Artesia on Jan. 2, 2012. Mathew Sloan, one of Mendoza's accomplices, was convicted of his murder. A second accomplice, Donald Ybarra, entered a plea deal in the case.

"In terms of prosecution, it was our belief through the investigation that Senovio Mnedoza was the one who developed the plan to go to Timothy Wallace's house and to essentially rob (him) ... it was a home invasion," Esquibel said. "Therefore he deserves equal responsibility with Mathew Sloan who shot him."

Esquibel said that Wallace's family members and members of Mendoza's family will be given a chance to speak at a hearing on Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. where he will be sentenced for other charges in the same crime, including tampering with evidence.

Mendoza will likely serve 30 years before being eligible for parole. Robert Tangora, Mendoza's defense attorney could not be reached for comment.